Light control element having a wide viewing angle

ABSTRACT

A light control element having a wide viewing angle includes two biaxial electro-optic crystal plates having thicknesses of retardations equal to each other, and resulting in an equivalent uniaxial crystal plate, and a uniaxial crystal plate conjugate to the electro-optic crystal plates and having a thickness of the equivalent uniaxial retardation of the biaxial electro-optic crystal plate arrayed in cascade in the direction of light incidence. The anisotropy of the biaxial electro-optic crystal is perfectly compensated not only for normally incident light but also for obliquely incident light.

ELECTRIC VOLTAGE SOURCE on 3.923.379 A Q?) United St X )(W-/' [111 3,923,379

Kumada W 1 1 Dec. 2, 1975 I5 1 LIGHT CONTROL ELEMENT HAVING A 2.768.557 10/1956 Bond 350/150 w v w ANGLE 3,838,906 10/1974 Kumada 350/150 Primary E.\'aminer.lohn K. Corbin Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Craig & Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT A light control element having a wide viewing angle includes two biaxial electro-optic crystal plates having thicknesses of retardations equal to each other. and resulting in an equivalent uniaxial crystal plate. and a uniaxial crystal plate conjugate to the clectro-optic crystal plates and having a thickness of the equivalent uniaxial retardation of the biaxial electro-optic crystal plate arrayed in cascade in the direction of light incidence. The anisotropy of the biaxial electro-optic crystal is perfectly compensated not only for normally incident light but also for obliquely incident light.

11 Claims. 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,923,379 I FIG. PRIOR ART ELECTRIC VOLTAGE SOURCE ELECTRIC VOLTAGE SOURCE US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 2 0f3 3,923,379

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

U.S. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 3 of 3 3,923,379

FIG.

FIG. 7

IO 20 l2 FIG. 6

LIGHT CONTROL ELEMENT HAVING A WIDE VIEWING ANGLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 2 through the Kerr cell. Consequently, with a voltage applied to the Kerr cell, the quantity of light permeating through the analyzer is not zero, but a considerable amount of linearly polarized light permeates there- 5 through. The quantity of the permeating linear polarl. Field of the Invention ization varies in dependence on the magnitude of the The present invention relates to a light control eleapplied voltage of the Kerr cell. It is the largest at an ment which accurately controls light transmission not appropriate magnitude, that 1s, at such a voltage that only for normally incident light but also for obliquely the vibrational plane of the incident linear polarization incident light. rotates by 90 (this voltage is called the half-wave volt- The term light control element is a general term age). The phase difference between the birefrmgent for elements which control, in response to an input siglight beams transmitted through the Kerr cell with the nal, the intensity, color, wavelength, phase, vibrational voltage applied thereto is proportional to an optical plane and phase difference of light permeating therepath difference R which is determined by the product through. Accordingly, the so-called optical switch, light of the birefringence An due to the electro-optic effect intensity modulator, color modulator, polarization (the difference in the refractive index between the bireplane switching element, etc. are all included within the fringent light beams) and the distance d over which the meaning of the term light control element. light passes through the cell for normal incidence (let- 1. Description of the Prior Art ting A denote the wavelength of the transmitted light, As alight control element employing the electro-opthe phase difference =(21r/A) An'd). Accordingly, tic effect, a Kerr cell has heretofore been known. A where the incident light is not collimated light but it 15 Kerr cell typically includes anitrobenzene contained in divergent light or convergent light, the optical path a glass vessel. A voltage of several tens of kV is applied length and the birefringence also differ from those in through electrodes immersed in the liquid. When emthe case of normal incidence (collimated), and hence, ploying a Kerr cell for a light control device, the Kerr 25 the quantity of transmitted light varies in dependence cell is inserted between a pair of polarizers the polarizaon the magnitude of the angle of divergence or convertion planes of which are arranged orthogonally to each gence. For this reason, even when the light control eleother. They are arranged in cascade so that linearly poment is designed so as to accurately operate for norlarized light transmitted through one polarizer may be mally incident light, it does not always operate accutransmitted through the Kerr cell (in other words, the rately for obliquely incident light. light control element) and so that the light transmitted A particular problem in the light control element is through the Kerr cell may reach the other polarizer. In the existence of light noise in the off state. In this rethis light control device, with no voltage applied, the spect, when the nitrobenzene solution is used as in the nitrobenzene is optically isotropic. Therefore, the lin- Kerr cell, no light leaks in the off state due to the 0pearly polarized light transmitted through one polarizer tical isotropy property. passes through the Kerr cell without suffering any loss Since, however, the electro-optic effect of the nitroin the quantity of transmitted light. Since, however, it is benzene solution is not very great, a very high voltage intercepted by the other polarizer (namely, an analyis required in order to operate it as a light control elezer), the quantity of transmitted light is zero. ment. To decrease the operating voltage, a different On the other hand, when a voltage is applied to the substance must be selected. The following Table 1 lists nitrobenzene, it becomes birefringent. The linearly potypical electro-optic crystals and their crystallographic larized light incident on the Kerr cell causes a phase symmetries, linear electro-optic coefficients (Pockels difference between birefringent light beams during the coefficients), refractive indices and half-wave voltages. transmission through the Kerr cell, and generally becomes elliptically polarized light after transmission TABLE 1 linear eleclrooptic half-wave voltage crystal symmetry coefficient refractive (VA/2) direction of direction of XIOI2 (m/V) index electric field incident light CuCl 43m 11, Y =6.l n,=1.996 5.8 [001] [001] (A -0.535;) ()\=Z0.5}L) CuBi- 43m 11, *=0.s5 n,=2.16 32.1 [001] [001] ()\=0.535u-) \=O.5p.) ZnTe 43m 1",, "*=4.55 n,=3.1 3.4 001 [0011 .=0.57;L) .=0.s ZnSe 43m f i 7 *=2.0 n,,=2.66 7.8 1001] [001] .=0.5 t) .=0.5n) ZnS 43m F4, 7 =12 n,,=2.47l

10.4 [0011 [00 1 I1, =2.0-2.1 n,,=2.364 A=0.4s t) r=0.6 t) ()\=0.6p.) GaAs 43m 1;, Y *=0.27-1.2 n,=3.60

13.3 [001 [001] n,=3.42 (Fm) ()\=I.25}l.) GaP 43m [13 106 n,,=3.3l5 7.6 [001 [0011 A=0.6 t) .=0.54,r rum-1,), 43m 11. Y =41 n,=1.59 1.5 [001 1001] ()\=O.6IL) (A=0.6p.) Bi,(Geo 43m 11, *=1.03 n,,=2.1 2.7 [001] [001] In the above Table l, the values for which no temperature is particularly specified are those at room temperature. The symbol (S) indicates a value at a constant strain, and (T) a value at a constant stress.

Values on which no wavelength is particularly indicated are those for )t 0.5 0.6 p.. In crystals with no wavelength indicated, the values are almost constant in 0.5 0.6 1.1..

The half-wave voltage of each crystal differs in value in dependence on the applied voltage and the direction of incident light.

Character 1 denotes the length of a crystal in the direction of light propagation, and d the thickness between electric field electrodes of the crystal.

Among the crystals in the above table, those whise can turn the element "off" independently of the angle of incidence on the electro-optic crystal are cubic crys; tals (isotropic) belonging to the group 43m (where 4 represents the 4-fold axis of rotatory reflection, 3 the 3-fold axis of symmetry and m the mirror plane (or reflection plane)). In order to turn the element on" in the visible region, the half-wave voltage V()\/2) to be applied to the electro-optic crystal must be about 10 kV, which is comparatively high.

The electro-optic effect of crystals exhibiting ferroelectricity is relatively great, and the half-wave voltage thereof is low. For example, the group KH PO of 42m (where Z denotes the 4-fold axis of rotatory reflection, 2 the 2-fold axis of symmetry and m the mirror plane) includes KD PO, of a half-wave voltage V( M2) 3 kV, and the group LiNbO of 3m (where 3 indicates the 3- fold axis of symmetry and m the mirror plane) includes LiNbO of V()\/2) 2.9 kV, LiTaO of V()\/2) 2.8 kV, etc. For all these substances, large-sized crystals which are comparatively homogeneous are easily obtained, and the electro-optic effect is readily attained. They are, therefore, utilized as electro-optic crystals.

The group 4mm (where 4 designates the 4-fold axis of symmetry and mm denotes two mirror planes) represented by BaTiO includes substances which have a still greater electro-optic effect. For example, V( M2) 0.4 kV in BaTiO When a solid solution is prepared, one having an even lower V( M2) is obtained, and V()t/2) is 0.048 kV in Sr Ba Nb O In this group, however, optical large crystals are difficult to produce, and the stage of practical use has not yet been reached. Development is presently concentrated on the technique of growing homogeneous large-sized crystals.

The family KDP of 42m, the family LiNbO of 3m, the family BaTiO of 4 mm, etc. which have a relatively great electro-optic effect are all uniaxial crystals. With these crystals, the leakage of light upon light interception depends greatly upon the angle of incidence, unlike the case of the cubic crystals.

In addition to the cubic (or equi-axes) crystals and the uniaxial crystals described above, biaxial crystals such as Gd (MoO,) have recently been developed as electro-optic crystals (Gd (MoO is biaxial only at temperatures below 160C.)

Gd (MoO and crystals of the same family have memory action with respect to birefringence An at temperatures below the Curie point. Unless a voltage exceeding a threshold value is applied, they retain the birefringence An permanently even when any voltage below the threshold value is applied. By utilizing this property, a light control element having the memory action can be produced.

A c-plate 387 1. thick, which is obtained by slicing a single crystal of the family Gd (MoO along the cplane of the crystal or normally to the bisector of the two optical axes and by polishing the cut piece, acts as a M4 plate. When transparent electrodes are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the c-plate and a voltage of about 200 volts is applied, the sign of birefringence changes. Therefore, when the M4 plate is diagonally placed on another M4 plate, the retardation 7 of light for these M4 plates becomes 7 A i /4 A or 0. By combining these plates with polarizers, an optical shutter for monochromatic light can be constructed. Where the incident light is white light, the c-plates are constructed into M4 plates for its center wavelength A, 535 my Then, the transmitted light is scarcely colored, and light interception can be affected irrespective of the wavelengths. Where the t/4 plate combined with the single Gd M000 crystal is replaced with a phase retarder having a large retardtion R, more specifically where a quartz crystal x-plate approximately 100 ,u. thick is used, where two Gd (MoO c-plates 210 p. and 190 p thick are placed thereon and where they are diagonally located between two polarizers, the total retardation '7 becomes great and an interference color appears. When, similar to the optical shutter element, voltage of about 150 volts are respectively applied to the two crystal plates, the total retardation varies as in the following equation:

where 7 7, and Y indicate the values of retardation of the quartz crystal, the Gd (MoO,,) crystal I and the like crystal ll, respectively. As a result, the total retardations 7 become 950 my., 1113 my. and 1313 mu. When retardations 950 mp, I138 my. and 1313 my. at which the interference colors become red, blue and green are employed, a color modulator which changes the color of transmitted light in response to voltage application is obtained.

Where light is incident at an acute angle (not parallel) to the c-axial direction of the Gd (MoO crystal plate, the amount of leakage light increases and the contrast ratio between on and off decreases in the optical shutter, while the saturation of the color changes and, moreover, another color sometimes ap pears in the light control element for color modulation.

When using Gd (MoO. for the electro optic element, accordingly, the angle of incidence is subject to limitations as in the case of the family KH PO the 6 family BaTiO and the family LiNbO described above. and it is about 3 or so.

As is stated above, for cubic electro-optic crystals, no leakage light appears in the off" state, but the electrooptic effect upon voltage application is small. With crystals having a great electro-optic effect, both the uniaxial and biaxial crystals are disadvantageous from the point of tolerance (wide viewing angle property) for obliquely incident light. In an image processor such as a conventional camera, an angle of field of at least about 1*: 30 is required.

One solution to providing a wide viewing angle is disclosed in applicants application U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,906, entitled Optical Switch. The invention disclosed in this application is constructed as follows. As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings of the present application, an electro-optic crystal plate 3 and a biaxial crystal plate as a compensator 6 are disposed in cascade between a polarizer l and an analyzer 2 whose polarization planes are arranged orthogonally to each other. The electro-optic crystal plate 3 is constructed in such way that, in a biaxial crystal plate (or a uniaxial crystal plate) whose opposing upper and lower major surfaces are respectively formed to be normal to the bisector of an angle defined by the two optical axes (or to be normal to the single optical axis in the case of the uniaxial crystal plate), transparent electrodes 4 are provided on the respective principle planes, and a voltage source 5 is connected across the transparent electrodes. For the electro-optic crystal plate 3 and the compensator 6, crystals which are conjugate and in compensating relation with respect to their optical polarities must be selected. That is, in correspondence with the positive or negative birefringence of the electro-optic crystal plate, an optically negative or positive crystal plate must be selected as the compensator.

For an electro-optic crystal plate and compensator, satisfying the above relation, arranged in cascade between the polarizer and the analyzer as crossed polarizers, where the incident light on such an electro-optic crystal plate is oblique to the normal of the principal plane of the crystal plate, the phase difference of transmitted light corresponding to a variation of the refractive index dependent upon the angle of inclination of the incident light can be compensated. In this previous invention, the conditions for selecting the substance of the electro-optic crystal plate are specified. Further, gadolinium molybdate (Gd M009 is an example and is explained in detail. Since Gd (MoO is a biaxial positive crystal, the compensator crystal must be a biaxial negative crystal. Among biaxial negative crystals, KNO3Ba(OH)g.8H2o, Nagzrsl'o5, COSCO4.6H20, ZnSO SrCO CaCO BaCO and PbCO are listed as substances which are suited for an optimum compensating condition for widening the viewing angle, considering their optical properties. Here, the optimum condition is that both the foll owing relations hold as to the angle of optical axes 2xV the birefringence An and stances which approximately satisfy it have been utilized. In that case, a variation from the condition l) has become the limit of the compensation, i.e., the limit of the widening of the viewing angle as it is. It has been impossible to obtain a true widening of the viewing angle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to provide a wide viewing angle in a light control element, the present invention uses a biaxial crystal plate in which the opposing upper and lower major surfaces of a biaxial crystal are respectively formed so as to be normal to the bisector of an angle defined by two optical axes, and a uniaxial crystal plate in which the opposing upper and lower major surfaces of a uniaxial crystal are respectively formed so as to be normal to the optical axis.

An object of the present invention is to provide a light control element which is free from the disadvantage of the prior-art light control element and whose angle of view is made wide.

The subject matter of the present invention resides in that two biaxial electro-optic crystal plates and a uniaxial crystal plate are successively arranged in cascade between a pair of polarizers, each of the biaxial electrooptic crystal plates having its upper and lower opposite major surfaces formed so as to be respectively normal to the bisector of an angle defined between the two optical axes, the biaxial plates having their thicknesses between the major surfaces made so as to possess equal retardations. The uniaxial crystal plate possesses a retardation twice as large as that of the biaxial electro-optic crystal plate and transparent electrodes are respectively disposed on the upper and lower major surfaces of one of the biaxial electro-optic crystal plates. A voltage supply source for modulating the retardation of the crystal plate to a predetermined value is connected to the transparent electrodes. The two biaxial electro-optic crystal plates in the light control element of this construction must have their crystal orientations disposed so as to cancel the retardations of the crystal plates of each other (more specifically, the upper and lower major surfaces of the respective crystal plates must be arranged with orientations which are rotated by 90 with respect to the normal axis).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of a prior-art light control device which employs a biaxial crystal plate,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the construction of a light control element of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a conoscopic figure at the time when two M4 plates are arranged in a phase adding manner,

FIG. 4 is a conoscopic figure at the time when the two M4 plates are arranged in a phase subtracting manner.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of an optical shutter element which is constructed on the basis of the principle of the present invention and which has the angle of view widened for He Ne laser light rays,

FIG. 6 is a conoscopic figure for the light interception of an optical shutter element for the He Ne laser light where KI-I PO is used as a conjugate crystal, and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a color modulator having a wide viewing angle according to the present invention which can control the three primary colors of red, green and blue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With the prior-art light control element or the light control element disclosed in US. Application Ser. No. 289,255, where the biaxial birefringent crystal plates are used for the respective crystal plates constituting the element, a deviation of birefringence occurs for the light obliquely incident on the element. Moreover, no ideal substance can be selected as the materiaal being compensated the deviation of birefringence. This creates a problem in putting the light control element into practical use. The present invention has been made in order to eliminate such a difficulty of the selection of the material in the light control element.

More specifically, with respect to the light control element disclosed in US. Application Ser. No. 289,255 (Dutch Application No. 7,212,572), the present invention compensates equivalently the biaxial anisotropy of the consituent biaxial electro-optic crystal plate into uniaxial anisotropy (hereinbelow, a plate for compensating the biaxial anisotropy of the electro-optic crystal plate into uniaxial anisotropy in this manner will be termed the equivalent uniaxial plate"), and further makes compensation by the use of a uniaxial plate which is optically conjugate to the equivalent uniaxial plate. In other words, the light control element of the present invention is characterized by depriving the constituent biaxial electro-optic crystal plate of its optical anisotropy and using it as an optical isotropic body. When this principle of construction is applied to a device such as an optical shutter, no birefringence is exhibited for illuminating light in any direction when the device is in the optical isotropic state. The incident light, for example, is intercepted perfectly by the polarizer and analyzer diagonally arranged with the Gd (MoO,,) crystal plate held therebetween, so that the shutter is in the off state. In this case, first of all, the biaxial anistropy of the Gd (MoO,) crystal plate must be compensated so as to become equivalent to perfect uniaxiality. A method therefor is very simple.

Two C-plates, each of which has two upper and lower major surfaces normal to the bisector of the two optical axes of a Gd (MoO.,) crystal, may be finished to equal thicknesses and may be arranged in such-a manner that the retardations of the crystal plates are reduced from each other. At this time, the biaxiality of the Gd MoO.,) crystal plate is cancelled, a uniaxiality that r1 n ri /2 and that n =n is exhibited. Therefore, when the crystal plate and a crystal plate having two upper and lower major surfaces formed normally to the optical axis of a uniaxial crystal in conjugate relationship are arrayed diagonally to each other and in cascade, the uniaxial anisotropy is cancelled and the optically isotropic body can be obtained.

Subsequently, for the arrangement of the two Gd (MoO,) plates and the one conjugate uniaxial crystal plate, the polarization of one of the two Gd (MoO crystal plates is reversed. At this time, the optical anisotropies of the two Gd (M0O4)3 p ates change from the previous, phase-subtracting arrangement to the phase-adding arrangement. Therefore, the birefringence is exhibited even for normally incident light, and the optical shutter is in the on" state.

The ideal electro-optic shutter utilizing birefringence must be in the on" state as a half-wave plate for light incident in all directions, and be in the off" state as an isotropic body with no birefringence for light incident in all directions. It will now be explained that such an 9 ideal optical shutter can be constructed by the use of Gdg(M0O )3.

Gd (MoO is a biaxial positive crystal, which has the following refractive indices (the wavelength for measurements A is 546 mu):

n,- n, 5.3 X 10" n,, m, 4.0 X 10" Two M4 plates of a thickness of d mm made of c-plates of the single Gd (MoO crystal are diagonally arranged between two crossed polarizers. When the birefringences of the two M4 plates of Gd (MoO.,) are subtracted from each other, the phase differences for the normally incident light beams are cancelled by the two and become zero. As stated above, the two M4 plates of Gd (MoO are equivalent to a uniaxial crystal of n,, 1.901 and n,,= 1.848 in this state.

Now consider the retardation -"(Zfl/Ad An (An denotes the birefringence difference) for light incident on these crystals in various directions. Light rays incident at an angle 0,, to the normal of the M4 plates of Gd M000 are refracted within the crystal plates, and transmitted at an angle 0,. Here 6,, and 0, are represented by the following equation:

sin 0,,= 1.85 sin 0,

The apparent thickness d, of the crystal plate for the light beams permeating at the angle 0, becomes:

d, d/cos 0 (3) where d indicates the actual thickness. The apparent birefringence An,- becomes:

Therefore, the retardation for the permeating light at 6,

is represented by:

1,- 2 d'(n,, 11,)tan 0, sin 0,

That is, the value of the retardation y by the variation of the birefringence for the transmitted light at the angle of oblique incidence 0, is expressed by Eq. (5

Now consider the condition of selection for the uniaxial negative crystal which can compensate the retardation attendant upon oblique incidence. Let n, and 11,. be the refractive indices of the conjugate crystal, and d be the thickness thereof. The angle of refraction 0, of light beams incident at an angle of 0,, to the normal of a conjugate crystal plate, which is obtained by cutting the upper and lower principal planes of the conjugate crystal normally to its optical axis and polishing them, has the following relation:

sin 0,, n,, sin 0, (6)

From the relations of Eqs. (2) and (6),

sin 6 sin 0,.

Here, examples of the crystal con ugate to Gd M00 are listed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Uniaxial Conjugate Crystals to Biaxial Crystal Crystal Name of Substance System wD ED Na,Si1-' Hex. 1.312 1.309 2NaF.AlF Tetr. 1.349 1.342 (NHJzSiF Hex. 1.406 1.391 CuSiF..6H O Trig. 1.4092 1.4080 CaC1 .6H O Trig. 1.4 l 7 1.393 KA1(SO,) .12H O Hex. (7) 1.456 1.429 3CaO.A1- .0, .3CaS0,.3 1H 0 Hex. 1.464 1.458 (NI-1,);ScF, Tetr. 1.47 BcSO .4H,O Tetr. 1.4720 l .4395 LiKSO. Hex. 1.4723 1.4717 BeO.Be(C H ,S0 ).4H,O Tetr. 1.473 1.435 K TiF Trig. 1.475 1 1Na,0.9S0 .2CO .KCl Hex. 1.481 1.461 La(C=H,,S0.) .18H O Hex. 1.482 1.473 Ce(C H,SC .18H O Hex. 1.482 1.474 Pr(C;H SO .18H O Hex. 1.486 1.479 Nd( C, H 80 l 8H O Hex. 1.487 1.479 SiO,( B-Cristobalite) Tetr. 1.487 1 .484 6CaO.A1 O .3SO,.33H O Hex. 1.488 1.474 Er(C H;SO .18H O Hex. 1.490 1.480 Sm(C=H,SO.) .18H,O Hex. 1.490 1.481 Gd(C H SO ),,.18H O Hex. 1.490 1.482 Na SO,.MgSO,.25H O Tetr. 1.490 1.471 Y(C,H,,SO,),,.18H=O Hex. 1.493 1.480 Eu(C H,SO4)a.18H O Hex. 1.494 1.484 Dy(C,H,,SO .18H O Hex. 1.495 1.480 (NH );,UO=F Tetr. 1.495 1.490 CoSO..6H 0 Tetr. 1.495 1.460 CaO.A1 O .3SiO,.SH O Trig. 1.496 1.491 C 11-11 0 l -x-Mentho1) 1.497 1.476 C H O N (Guanidine- Tetr. 1.496 1.486 carbonate) Sr( OH ),.8H O Tetr. 1.499 1.476 3CaO.A O,-,.CaSO .12H O Hex. 1.504 1.488 3Ca0.CO .SO=.SiO .15H O Hex. 1.507 1.468 2MgO.MgF=.3CaF Hex. 1.509 1.486 KH PO. Tetr. 1.5095 1.4684 NiSO .6HzO Tetr. 1.5109 1.4873 6MgO.Al O; .CO .12H O Hex. 1.512 1.498 CaC1 .2MgCl .12H O Trig. 1.520 1.512 K,Cu(CN)4 Trig. 1.5215

15 16 TABLE 2-continued Uniaxial Conjugate Crystals to Biaxial Crystal Crystal Name of Substance System wD eD 3PbO.2SiO Trig. 2.07 2.05 Pb,(OH),(CO,), (White lead Hex. 2.09 L94 pigment) Bi,O,.CO 2. l 3 1.94 H,K,Tel O .2H O Trig. 2. I42 2.060 9Pb0.3As O,.PbCl, Hex. 2.l6 2. l3 PbO, Tetr. 2.229 2ZnO.2Mn,O,.H:O Tetr. 2.26 z 2. l Pb0.WO Tetr. 2.269 2.182 9PbO.3As O,.PbCl, Hex. 2.295 2.285 (Mg Fe )O.TiO, Trig. 2.31 1.95 Zn0.Mn,O, Telr. 2.34 2. l4 9PbO.3V O .PbCl Hex. 2.354 2.299 PbO.MoO Tetr. 2.40 2.28 Mn;,0, Tetr. 2.46 Ll 2.15 Li MnO.TiO, Trig. 2.481 2.210 TiO Tetr. 2.554 2.493 CaO.Fe,O 2.58 .43 Asl; Trig. 2.59 r 2.23 AgAsS: (Low temp. phase) Trig. 2.6 Li PbO Tetr. 2.665 2.535 Hgl, Tetr. 2.748 2.455 Sbl, (Low temp. phase) Trig. 2.78 Li 2 36 Li 3Ag,S.As S Trig. 3.088 2.792 Fegoq Hex. 3.22 2.94

In the above Table 2, wD represents the refractive index for ordinary rays as measured with Na D-line, while 6 D indicates the refractive index for extraordinary rays as measured with the same line. Hex. is short for the hexagonal system, Tetr. for the tetragonal system, Rhomb. for the rhombohedral system, and Trig. the trigonal system.

As will be understood from the above description, where, in the element employing the electro-optic crystal plate which has the principal planes normal to the bisector of the two optical axes of the biaxial birefringent crystal, the optical anisotropy is to be nullified as in, for example, the off state of an optical shutter element, a construction as shown in FIG. 2 may be adopted in order to always neglect the optical anisotropy and to eliminate leakage of light not only for the normally incident light but also for light incident in every direction. That is, quarter-wave plates 3 and 3 of the biaxial birefringent crystal are arranged in cascade to the incident light in a phase subtracting manner, to convert biaxial anistropy into uniaxial anisotropy, and a crystal plate 6 having major surfaces normal to the optical axis of the uniaxial crystal in conjugate relationship is arranged in cascade to the quarterwave plates. In particular, when the refractive index of the conjugate crystal plate matches the value of the equivalent uniaxial refractive index of the biaxial crystal plates arranged in the phase subtracting manner, the anisotropy disappears and the isotropy is established in all the directions.

Where, in the element employing the birefringent crystal, the variations of retardation dependent upon the direction of incidence are desired to be reduced as in, for example, the on state of the optical shutter element for such element bestowing a predetermined retardation on transmitted light as a phase retarder and color modulator, the uniaxial crystal in conjugate relationship may be combined as in the foregoing case. In this case, however, the retardation for normally incident light on the biaxial birefringent crystal need not be zero, unlike the previous example. Therefore, only one biaxial birefringent crystal plate suffices for, e.g., the phase retarder. In the optical shutter element, two M4 plates of the biaxial birefringent crystal may be arranged at phase adding positions, so that the retardation may correspond to a half-wavelength plate. In a color modulator, the values of retardations of two or more birefringent crystals plates may correspond to the required interference colors. In this manner, the number and thickness of the birefringent crystal plates differ in dependence on the use. In any case, the change of the value of retardation as based on the oblique incidence increases with the overall thickness of the refractive crystal, and hence, the thickness of the conjugate uniaxial crystal may be determined in consideration thereof. That is, for a plurality of biaxial birefringent crystal plates as well as for a single plate, the thickness of the conjugate crystal may be determined relative to the sum of the thicknesses of all the plates in the event that the plates are made of the same substance. For example, when the indices of birefringence of the biaxial birefringent crystal plates are converted into an equivalent uniaxial value and the conjugate crystal of a refractive index matching therewith is used, the thickness of the conjugate crystal may be selected at the same thickness as that of the entire biaxial crystal.

Description will be made of embodiments of the light control element which have the viewing angle widened for obliquely incident light and which are prepared using conjugate crystals listed in Table 2.

Embodiment l A C-plate was cut at such a high precision that the deviation from the c-plane of a single Gd M000 crystal fell within 30 seconds. With reference to the orientation of the cutting surface and flat thereto, the C- plate was precisely polished into a transparent plate 387 0.5 ,uthick.

Since the crystal was a single domain crystal before processing, the C-plate obtained was of the single domain type. It became a highly-precise circular polarization plate for He Ne laser light having wavelength of 6328 A. However, when the incident light was oblique even slightly or it was not collimated light, an elliptically polarized component arose. Since the equivalent uniaxial indices of refraction of Gd:( M009 are n,

1.889 and n 1.836, the matching refractive indices are n 1.836 and n 1.783. A C-plate of the single crystal of the optimum substance Cl-ll selected from Table 2 was cut in like manner to the Gd (MoO,) and was optically polished to a thickness of 390p It was affixed to the foregoing circular polarization plate of Gd (MoO,) Antireflection films of MgF were provided on the opposite major surfaces of the plates. A circular polarization plate thus made, produced circular polarization not only when the incident light was normal but also when the light incident on crystal plates was inclined by about 30.

Embodiment 2 Two M4 plates of Gd (MoO.,) each processed in the same was as in Embodiment 1, were prepared. On the surfaces of one of the plates, electrodes of low resistance and high light permeability were provided by sputtering ln O SnO series ceramics. The two M4 plates were diagonally inserted between two polarizers disposed in an orthogonal arrangement. By illuminating the element as to concentrate l-le-Ne laser light on the surface by a lens, a conoscopic figure was made. The conoscopic figure obtained is shown in FIG. 3. This and the other conoscopic figures shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 are interference patterns of a double refractive crystal plate which is placed between crossed polarizers. Circular lines from the center line to the outer line, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, show first, second and third interference effects, respectively. The lines crossing the circular lines show the principal axis of the refractive indices. Subsequently, a voltage of about 100 volts was applied to the M4 plate provided with the electrodes, to reverse the polarization. At this time, the conoscopic figure changed as in FIG. 4.

FIG. 3 is the conoscopic figure of a N2 plate and corresponds to the open state of an optical shutter, while FIG. 4 corresponds to the closed state of the optical shutter. As will be apparent from FIG. 4, the light normally incident on the optical shutter is intercepted, but the light obliquely incident leaks out. The function of the optical shutter is therefore degraded for the incident light of wide view angle. The conoscopic figure in FIG. 4 resembles that of a uniaxial crystal well. Next, the compensation for the oblique incidence was made using a conjugate compensator.

Similar to Embodiment l, a single C111 crystal was polished to a thickness of 780 p., and the plate obtained was arranged in superposition with the M4 plates of Gd (MoO At this time, the conoscopic figure in FIG. 3 disappeared, and the entire screen became bright. When the shutter was closed, the figure in FIG. 4 also disappeared, and the screen became dark uniformly over its entire surface.

It was revealed that the compensation could be perfectly made for oblique incidence. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, antireflection films 7, 8 and 9 were respectively disposed on the M4 plate 3 of Gd (MoO provided with the electrodes 4, the M4 plate 3 provided with no electrode and the conjugate crystal plate 6 of CI-ll The plates 3,, 3 and 6 were respectively fixed to stands 10, 11 and 12, and were inserted between the polarizers l and 2 orthogonally arranged. They were accommodated in a case 13. The electrodes 4 were connected to terminals 16 and 17 by lead wires 14 and 15. Thus, an optical shutter was constructed. With this optical shutter, the He Ne laser light could be turned on and off at a light blocking ratio of about This light blocking ratio did not considerably decrease even for the obliquely incident light, and it was not difficult to keep the light blocking ratio at above 10 Similar to Embodiment 2, an optical shutter for white light could be fabricated.

The thickness of the M4 plate of Gd (MoO,) for white light or natural light is 320 p" Therefore, when the optical shutter was constructed by polishing Cl-Il to a thickness of 650 1., a very good result was obtained, and the prospect of practically using the element in a camera etc. could be seen.

Further, study was made by employing coco Mncoa, ZIICOS, NaYSlO NaLaSiO KL3SlO LiLaSiO, etc. as the conjugate crystals, and good prospects were seen for widening the viewing angle on all the substances. Since, however, no single crystal colorless and transparent, optically homogeneous and large in size could be obtained for these conjugate crystals, satisfactory practical use was impossible.

For reference purposes, description will be made of a case where study was made with a crystal of KH PO whose refractive index for ordinary rays is n 1.509, considerably smaller than the refractive index of Gd (MoO n, 1.85, and which is, accordingly, a considerably poor match in contrast to the above crystals. The method of constructing the optical shutter was the same as in the foregoing, and is omitted here. The thickness of KI-I PO, for He Ne laser was 680 t, and a conoscopic figure at the closure is shown in FIG. 6. The wide view angle-compensation was about 7.

Embodiment 3 As is shown in FIG. 7, Gd M009 C-plates 3 and 3 each having an area of 10 mm X 10 mm and respectively having thicknesses of p. and 210 p. were respectively coated with transparent electrodes 4 and 4 by the same method as in Embodiment 2. Lead wires 18,18 and 19,19 were connected to the respective electrodes. The resultant C-plates 3 and 3 were respectively fixed to supporting plates 10 and 12, a mylar film 20 of a thickness of 10p. and a KH PQ, C-plate 6 of a thickness of 650p. were affixed in a manner to be held therebetween, and orthogonal polarizers 1 and 2 were bonded to a case 13. The mylar film provides a double refraction function, and hence, produces an interference color in connection with the other double refractive crystals between the polarizers. The crystal plates were put into the case 13 at diagonal positions, and were molded. The lead wires 18,18 and 19,19 were respectively connected to terminals 16,17 and 21,22 of the case. The terminals 16,17,21 and 22 had resistors of 10 k (I. connected thereto, respectively, and were then grounded to the case 13.

In this way, a color modulator was constructed. When a prior-art color modulator is inclined or viewed with light having a wide angle, the color impurity becomes inferior, and the color changes. In contrast, where the color modulator in FIG. 7 was illuminated at a wide viewing angle defining a solid angle of 20, and the light was projected onto a screen, the entire screen changed to the three primary colors, red, blue and green each having substantially the same hues. Thus, the prospect of practical use into a color modulator for a color TV camera was seen.

It has been described above that, using a uniaxial conjugate crystal for an optical element which has a compensator of Gd (MoO.,);, being biaxial, the change of birefringence for obliquely incident light can be 19 compensated to make the viewing angle of the element wide.

Although all the embodiments have exemplified the use of a Gd (MoO C-plate as a biaxial electro-optic crystal plate, any other biaxial crystal plate having the electro-optic effect may be used. When a substance having ferroelectricity not simultaneously a ferroelastic property (that is, a substance exhibiting a square hysteresis loop between the applied stress and the arising strain), such as Tb (MoO Sm (MoO Dy M000 potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP) and roshell salt (R-salt), is used for the biaxial electro-optic crystal plate, the crystal plate has features as follows. Once a voltage has been applied to the biaxial electrooptic crystal plate to place it in a predetermined birefringent state, the state is retained without supplying the voltage insofar as a voltage of the opposite polarity is applied. Therefore, the light control element of the foregoing construction has a memory function.

While I have shown and described several embodiments in accordance with the present invention it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications known to a person skilled in the art and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the an.

What is claimed is:

1. An optical control device comprising:

first and second biaxial electro-optic crystals, each of which has a pair of major surfaces which are normal to a bisector of an angle defined by the two optical axes of the crystal, and

a thickness providing a retardation equal to that provided by the other biaxial crystal;

at least one pair of transparent electrodes provided respectively on the pair of major surfaces of at least one of said biaxial crystals, and a respective source of supply voltage connected to each respective pair of electrodes; and

a uniaxial crystal plate, which is conjugate to said first and second biaxial crystal plates, having a' thickness corresponding to the equivalent retardation of said biaxial crystal plate;

said biaxial crystal plates and said uniaxial crystal plate being disposed optically in cascade with each other.

2. An optical control device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed.

3; An optical control device according to claim 1, wherein said uniaxial crystal plate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of Na SiF 2NaF. ALF (NHJ SiF CuSiF .6H O, CaCl,.6l-l O, KAl(SO.,) 1 2H O, 3CaO.Al O .3CaSO l 2H O,

6SiO .l6l-l O, NaAlSiO (B-phase or low temperature 4. An optical control devices according to claim 3, wherein each of said first and second biaxial crystals is a Gd (MoO crystal plate.

5. An optical control device according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed.

6. An optical control device according to claim 4, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed.

7. An optical control device according to claim 4, wherein each of said Gd (MoO crystal plates is a quarter-wave plate.

8. An optical control device according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed.

9. An optical control device according to claim 1, wherein a respective pair of transparent electrodes is provided on the major surfaces of each of said first and second biaxial crystals.

10. An optical control device according to claim 1, wherein only said first biaxial crystal has electrodes provided on the major surfaces thereof, said biaxial crystals are made of Gd (MoO,,) and said uniaxial crystal is Cl-ll 11. An optical control device according to claim 10, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed. 

1. An optical control device comprising: first and second biaxial electro-optic crystals, each of which has a pair of major surfaces which are normal to a bisector of an angle defined by the two optical axes of the crystal, and a thickness providing a retardation equal to that provided by the other biaxial crystal; at least one pair of transparent electrodes provided respectively on the pair of major surfaces of at least one of said biaxial crystals, and a respective source of supply voltage connected to each respective pair of electrodes; and a uniaxial crystal plate, which is conjugate to said first and second biaxial crystal plaTes, having a thickness corresponding to the equivalent retardation of said biaxial crystal plate; said biaxial crystal plates and said uniaxial crystal plate being disposed optically in cascade with each other.
 2. An optical control device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed.
 3. An optical control device according to claim 1, wherein said uniaxial crystal plate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of Na2SiF6, 2NaF. ALF3, (NH4)2SiF6, CuSiF6.6H2O, CaCl2.6H2O, KAl(SO4)2.12H2O, 3CaO.Al2O3.3CaSO4.12H2O, (NH4)3ScF6, BeSO4.4H2O, LiKSO4, BeO.Be(C2H5SO4).4H2O, K2TiF6, 11Na2O.9SO2.2CO2.KCl, La(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, Ce(C2H5SC4)6.18H2O, Pr(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, Nd(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, Beta -Cristobalite, 6CaO.Al2O3.3SO2.33H2O, Er(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, Sm(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, Gd(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, Na2SO4.MgSO4.25H2O, Y(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, Eu(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, Dy(C2H5SO4)6.18H2O, (NH4)3UO2F5, CoSO46H2O, CaO.Al2O3.3SiO2.5H2O, C10H20O, C3H12O3N6, Sr(OH)2.8H2O, 3CaO.A12O3.CaSO4.12H2O, 3CaO.CO2.SO3.SiO2.15H2O, 2MgO.MgF2.3CaF2, KH2PO4, NiSO4.6H2O, 6MgO.Al2O3.CO212H2O, CaCl2.2MgCl2.12H2O, K3Cu(CN)4, Mg2Al4Si5O18 Alpha ( Alpha -phase), 3Mg(NO3)2.2La(NO3)3.24H2O, NH4H2PO4, 3Mg(NO3)2.2Ce(NO3)3.24H2O, 3Mg(NO3)2.2Pr(NO3)8.24H2O, 3Mg(NO3)2.2Nd(NO3)3.24H2O, Ca3Al2O5.12H2O, Mg2Al4Si5O13 Alpha , 3CaO.Al2O3.CaSO4.6H2O, ZnSeO4.6H2O, SrS2O6.4H2O, Metaldehyde, PbAlSiO4, K3CO3.CaCO3, LiAlSiO4, K2O.4CaO.2Al2O3.24SiO2.H2O, KAlSiO4 ( Beta -phase), Ba(ClO4)2.3H2O, 6ZnO.3Al2O3.2SO3.18H2O, SrCl2.6H2O, K2O.8CaO.16SiO2.16H2O, NaAlSiO4 ( Beta -phase or low temperature phase), Ca3Al2O4.8H2O, NaLiCO3, Al2O3.C12O3.18H2O, ZnCl2.6NH3, NiSeO4.6H2O, CH3CONH2, 6MgO.Fe2O3.CO2.12H2O, Na2O.Al2O3.2SiO2, 6MgO.Cr2O3.CO2.12H2O, Li2O.Al2O3.2SiO2(CH2OHCHOH)2(di-Erythritol), K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3, Na2CO2.CaCO3, K3CaSi10O25, CaS2O6.4H2O, 3NaAlSiO4.CaCO3, Co(ClO4)2.6H2O, Ni(ClO4)2.6H2O, 3NaAlSiO4.CaCO3, 3CaO.Al2O3.CaCl2.10H2O, CaS2O6.4H2O, C4H8O2Cl2, HfOCl2.8H2O, C5H12O4, AlCl3.6H2O, 4AlCl3.3Al2O3.3SO3.36H2O, ZrOCl2.8H2O, Na2SO3, 3CaO.CaF2.3SiO2.2H2O FeCl2, KH2AsO4, Ca(OH)2, 3MnO.4SiO2.4H2O, NH4H2AsO4, Cholesterolbenzoate, NaH (UO2)2P2O8.73H2O, 3BeO.Al2O3.6SiO2, C11H11ON2Br, NaNO3, 2NiO2.3SiO2.2H2O, K2CO3.MgCO3, Cu(UO2)2P2O8. 8H2O, Ca(UO2)2P2O8.7H2O, 6CaO.Al2O3.2P2O5.5H2O, Cu(UO2)2P2O8. 6H2O, PtCl2.4NH3.n H2O, 2CaO.2BeO.3SiO2.NaF, (Ce3La3Dy)F3, Ba(UO2)2P2O8.6H2O, (NH4)4Fe(CN)6.2NH4Cl.3H2O, 7CaO.2P2O5. CO2.0.5 H2O, Sr5F(PO4)3, BaO.FeO.4SiO2, Na2O.3CaO.P2O5, 3UO3.As2O5.12H2O, 8MnO.7SiO2.5H2O, Ca5F(PO4)3, Hydroquinone, 10CaO.3P2O5, 3Ca3P2O5.CaCO3, CaCuSi4O10, 2KCl-CuCl2.2H2O, CaO.CaCl2, BaF2.BaCl2, BaF2.BaCl2, Al2O3.B2O3, Ca5ClP3O12, CuO.2UO3.As2O5.8H2O, 3Sr3O2O3.SrCO3, HgCN2, C6H5CNBrCN, 2KCl.CuCl2, 10MgO.6B2O3.3H2O, SrCl2.SrF2, Fe2O8.P2O5.6H2O, CaCO3, Al2O3, PtCl2.2NH3.(PtCl2.4NH2), Ca5ClP3O12, BaF2.3Ba3F2O8, Ca2Al2SiO7, (NH4)2CuCl4.2H2O, Ca2FeSi2O7, MgCl2, 4(NH4)2S2O8. AgBr.NH4BrV2O4.CaO.P2O5.5H2O, BaO.2CaO.3SiO2, CaO.MgO.2CO2, 3Ba3P2O8.BaCO3, AlClO.6CuO.9H2O, C6H12O4N2S2, MgCO3, Ba5ClP3O12, 12MnO.9SiO2.As2O3.7H2O, 9CaO.3As2O5.CaF2, Na4Zr2Si3O12, C6H5COC6H4CH3, MnO.H2O, Ca - Al - silicate, LiNO3, CuCl2.2NH4Cl.2H2O, Ce2O3.3CO2.BaF2, Al2O3, Fe2(SO4)3, Na2O.2Al2O2.Sb2O5, BaAg2Cs3(NCS)7, Cs3Tl2Cl3, K2PtI2(NO2)2. 2H2O, 7(Fe2Mg/O.3Fe2O3.4SiO2.8H2O, Fe2O2.WO3.6H2O, CHI3, BaCu2Cs3(NCS)7, Ag2HPO4, 2(Pb3Mg)O.3Fe2O3.4SiO2.8H2O, 3Fe2O3.4SO3.9H2O, MnCO3, ZnCO3, K2O3FeO3.4SO3.6H2O, NaYSiO4, Na2O.PbO.Fe2O3.4H2O, SrCu2Cs3(NCS)7, CoCO3, NaLaSiO4, KLaSiO4, 6CaO.4Fe2O3.3As2O5.9H2O, 6CaO.3Fe2O.2As2O5.9H2O, LiLaSiO4, FeCO3, PbO.3Fe2O3.4SO3.6H2O, CaLa2Si2O3, NaPrSiO4, NaNdSiO4, NaSmSiO4, Ag2O.3Fe2O3.4SO3.6H2O, CaNd2Si2O3, 2PbO.3FeO3.P2O5.2SO3.6H2O, Pb3(PO4)2, Graphite, Pr2(MoO4)3, 3MnO.As2O3, Bi2O3.3H2O, Nd2(MoO4)3, 5PbCl2.4CuO.6H2O, Ce2(MnO4)3, 4PbCl2.4CuO.5H2O, 9PbCl2.8CuO.3AgCl.9H2O, 3PbO.2SiO2, Pb3(OH)2(CO3)2, Bi2O3.CO2, H2K2TeI2O10.12H2O, 9PbO3As2O5.PbCl2, PbO2, 2ZnO.2Mn2O3.H2O, PbO.WO3, 9PbO. 3As2O3.PbCl2, (Mg3Fe)O.TiO2, ZnO.Mn2O3, 9PbO.3V2O5.PbCl2, PbO.MoO3, Mn3O4, MnO.TiO2, TiO2, CaO.Fe2O3, AsI3, AgAsS2 (low temperature phase), PbO, HgI2, SbI3 (low temperature phase), 3Ag2S.As2S3 and Fe2O3.
 4. An optical control devices according to claim 3, wherein each of said first and second biaxial crystals is a Gd2(MoO4)3 crystal plate.
 5. An optical control device according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed.
 6. An optical control device according to claim 4, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed.
 7. An optical control device according to claim 4, wherein each of said Gd2(MoO4)3 crystal plates is a quarter-wave plate.
 8. An optical control device according to claim 7, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed.
 9. An optical control device according to claim 1, wherein a respective pair of transparent electrodes is provided on the major surfaces of each of said first and second biaxial crystals.
 10. An optical control device according to claim 1, wherein only said first biaxial crystal has electrodes provided on the major surfaces thereof, said biaxial crystals are made of Gd2(MoO4)3 and said uniaxial crystal is CHI3.
 11. An optical control device according to claim 10, further comprising a pair of crossed polarizers between which said crystals are disposed. 